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Superintendent's Column: Manufacturing Month — Providing a pathway to strong careers

three students share their experience in the engineering and manufacturing pathway
Superintendent's Column: Manufacturing Month — Providing a pathway to strong careers
Dr. Theresa Battle
District 191 Superintendent
 
October is designated as “Manufacturing Month” by the U.S. government and industry organizations across the country. It’s a time to highlight the importance of an industry that employs nearly 13 million American workers and accounts for more than 10 percent of the country’s gross domestic product. 
superintendent dr. theresa battle

Manufacturing careers such as machinists, engineers, mechanics, welders and inspectors, are highly skilled, well-compensated and high demand fields. In fact, in 2023 in Minnesota, there were 325,800 jobs in the manufacturing industry, making it the second largest employing industry in the state. Average wages were nearly $79,000, which is 10 percent higher than average for all industries in the state, and in the next 10 years, Minnesota is expected to see more than 93,000 manufacturing job openings.

It’s clear that a career in manufacturing can be a great choice, and that’s a big reason we offer District 191 students the opportunity to gain skills and experience in several manufacturing fields. From engineering, design and aerospace to engine technology, auto repair, welding, woodworking and much more, our students can find something they love to do and excel at and turn it into a rewarding career. 

There are so many examples already. Katie Lyon, a 2018 BHS grad, was sparked by experiences in middle and high school engineering classes, science fair and math league to a love for engineering. Those experiences helped prepare her for a degree in Mechanical Engineering from Iowa State and eventually a job in the Power Solutions Department at Bosch Engineering in Chicago. 

Thanks to our Pathways model, students in District 191 start experiencing and exploring what’s possible at the earliest grades and have opportunities to grow into those passions all the way up through high school, even earning professional certifications by the time they graduate. Last year, the Burnsville High School automotive program received ASE Training Program accreditation, meaning employers can know that our graduates are skilled, knowledgeable and employable right out of high school. 

We’ve been able to build these excellent manufacturing career field programs thanks to partnerships with local businesses like Walser Automotive and Bosch. That “community strong” approach is what ensures our students can get the experience and education they need to pursue the careers they want, including in high-demand, high-pay fields like manufacturing. 

Photo: On Thursday, Oct. 31, students shared their experiences with community members as part of a special Burnsville Chamber of Commerce event highlighting manufacturing month.